DEBBIE Abrahams won the Oldham East and Saddelworth by-election in the early hours of this morning.

The Liberal Democrats played down the significance of the defeat, stressing that parties in government rarely perform well in by-elections.

But the margin of Labour’s victory will heighten the pressure on Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. It came despite suggestions that David Cameron tried to help out his coalition partner by ordering a lacklustre Tory campaign.

Labour leader Ed Miliband will also seize on the strong showing after what has been seen as a faltering start at the party’s helm. Labour activists had voiced optimism after a mild afternoon in the constituency pushed turnout to a respectable 48.06%.

And by midnight it had become clear that their candidate had triumphed, with the Lib Dems trying to limit damage by predicting a "decent second" for Elwyn Watkins. The ballot was called after an election court declared last year’s contest void due to Labour victor Phil Woolas making false statements about the Lib Dem opponent Mr Watkins.

The Labour woman - who came third in the Colne Valley in last year's general election - beat her Lib Dem opponent Elwyn Watkins by 3,558 votes.

Conservative Kashif Ali saw his share of the vote plummet from 26% last May to just 12.8% in yesterday's poll.

In her victory speech, Mrs Abrahams called on the Conservative / Lib Dem coaltion government to "think again and change direction".

The Liberal Democrats played down the significance of the defeat, stressing that parties in government rarely perform well in by-elections.

But the margin of Labour’s victory will heighten the pressure on Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. It came despite suggestions that David Cameron tried to help out his coalition partner by ordering a lacklustre Tory campaign.

Labour leader Ed Miliband will also seize on the strong showing after what has been seen as a faltering start at the party’s helm. Labour activists had voiced optimism after a mild afternoon in the constituency pushed turnout to a respectable 48.06%.

And by midnight it had become clear that their candidate had triumphed, with the Lib Dems trying to limit damage by predicting a "decent second" for Elwyn Watkins. The ballot was called after an election court declared last year’s contest void due to Labour victor Phil Woolas making false statements about the Lib Dem opponent Mr Watkins.